To assume that AQ and their jihadi associates are operating on their own, with no outside assistance, either technologically, logistically or financially, is a mistake in my opinion. Unless you know it to be a fact that they are totally independent of any outside help or assistance, it is best to err on the side of caution. Having said that, however, it still mystifies me that they have done nothing here since 9/11.
IMHO the fact that the publish Voice of Jihad and Al Battar on a regular publication schedule, containing current information from the upper levels of Al Qaeda, says an awful lot about the lever of impediment that has been place on their command and control. In other words, they are in may ways free to communicate throughout the world. That means that there is something of a command and control structure intact.
Underestimating Al Qaeda is not something that would be wise in my opinion.
Case in point: Global Islamic Media gets shut down. By the end of the day, they are back operating. Al Ansar gets shut down. They are back complete with all archives.
The sheer fact that I can go online and locate threats and good wishes to the "martyrs" during the first week of September 11 should say a lot.
They are still able to communicate. As long as they can communicate their plans and their weapons designs, and as long as they can conduct recruitment operations through the internet and freely in our prison systems, and in our schools, we have a problem.
Strongly agree with you.
I think the puppet masters are a bit . . . torn as to their timing on things. I think somehow, prayers have 'enabled' God to monkey with their operations more, confuse their world more. Just my suspicion.
Given that their groups have been in operation, by some counts, for at least 400 years . . . some probably feel like conitinuing to take their time. Some puppet masters may realize that the more traditionalists among Christians and patriots who die off, the easier their tasks will be.
I think some are in a rush to be in totaly tyrannical control--witness SHRILLERY et al. But some are willing, evidently, to take their time, still.
Not for want of trying, I'll bet!
We must have stopped quite a few attempts, judging by some of the stuff that's come to our notice in the past months of TMT...